I Am Sevak
When the car stopped at the cottage, Swamishri unbuckled his seat belt. The youth driving the car said, 'I would have unbuckled it for you. There was no need to do it yourself.' Swamishri replied, 'Sometimes one has to become a svayamsevak (one's own servant).'
The youth responded, 'There is no need for you to be svayam-sevak. You are the boss!'
Swamishri, placing a finger on his chest, said 'I am not boss. I am sevak (servant).'
Despite being the guru of hundreds of thousands, Swamishri always harbours the feeling of sevakbhav (servitude).
26-6-2000, Nottingham
When the car stopped at the cottage, Swamishri unbuckled his seat belt. The youth driving the car said, 'I would have unbuckled it for you. There was no need to do it yourself.' Swamishri replied, 'Sometimes one has to become a svayamsevak (one's own servant).'
The youth responded, 'There is no need for you to be svayam-sevak. You are the boss!'
Swamishri, placing a finger on his chest, said 'I am not boss. I am sevak (servant).'
Despite being the guru of hundreds of thousands, Swamishri always harbours the feeling of sevakbhav (servitude).
26-6-2000, Nottingham
Nobel Peace Prize
Swamishri arrived in Birmingham at 12.15 p.m. While on the way to the residence someone said, 'It is the wish of Dr. Swami that you be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. The award ceremony takes place in Oslo, Norway. This award should be presented to you in the presence of all senior sadhus, saints and thousands of devotees.'
Swamishri responded with joy, 'For us the biggest prize is having met Shastriji Maharaj and Yogiji Maharaj. Everything is included in that. They are the topmost of the top. So whether one gets it or not, there is no regret. That Maharaj and Swami are happy and Shastriji Maharaj and Yogiji Maharaj have blessed us is the greatest of all prizes.'
3-7-2000, Birmingham
Swamishri arrived in Birmingham at 12.15 p.m. While on the way to the residence someone said, 'It is the wish of Dr. Swami that you be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. The award ceremony takes place in Oslo, Norway. This award should be presented to you in the presence of all senior sadhus, saints and thousands of devotees.'
Swamishri responded with joy, 'For us the biggest prize is having met Shastriji Maharaj and Yogiji Maharaj. Everything is included in that. They are the topmost of the top. So whether one gets it or not, there is no regret. That Maharaj and Swami are happy and Shastriji Maharaj and Yogiji Maharaj have blessed us is the greatest of all prizes.'
3-7-2000, Birmingham
'Seva' - The Way to Akshardham
During his visit around the Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, Swamishri arrived at the medical department. Dr. Harshad Patel requested Swamishri to sit in his chair. Then he gave his stethoscope to Swamishri and told him, 'Bapa, we check patients, but you are the Doctor of doctors. Please check me today.'
When Swamishri placed the stethoscope on his heart, Dr. Harshad asked, 'Will it go to Akshardham?'
Swamishri replied with a doctor's confident style, 'Yes, it is really eligible to go to Akshardham.'
'Then Bapa, what about us?' the other devotees chorused.
Swamishri, raising his hand, replied in a divine mood, 'Everyone will go to Akshardham! There is Akshardham for all those who do seva.'
6-8-2000, Atlanta
During his visit around the Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, Swamishri arrived at the medical department. Dr. Harshad Patel requested Swamishri to sit in his chair. Then he gave his stethoscope to Swamishri and told him, 'Bapa, we check patients, but you are the Doctor of doctors. Please check me today.'
When Swamishri placed the stethoscope on his heart, Dr. Harshad asked, 'Will it go to Akshardham?'
Swamishri replied with a doctor's confident style, 'Yes, it is really eligible to go to Akshardham.'
'Then Bapa, what about us?' the other devotees chorused.
Swamishri, raising his hand, replied in a divine mood, 'Everyone will go to Akshardham! There is Akshardham for all those who do seva.'
6-8-2000, Atlanta
Spiritual Guidance
Swamishri answered a couple of questions posed to him during the Bal Shibir in Perry, USA.
Q: We make a lot of mistakes yet you never show any displeasure towards us. How can we avoid making mistakes and with what thought do you forgive us?
A: To err is human. Only God and His realised Sadhu never err. But, we project our faults in them. And to dissolve them, they tolerate our errors and faults. God, out of compassion, loves and talks to us. If God and His realised Sadhu start looking at our faults then we would not be able to sit here. To sustain and elevate us they do not look at our faults. This is their compassion, grace, and patience. If one thinks on these lines then one would stop from erring.
Q: What expectations do you have from us?
A: It was Yogiji Maharaj's dream that children become virtuous and through them our society and nation too. For this you have to avoid eating out. Keep away from bad company. To become ideal means to live a pure life, have honesty, morality, the spirit to help others, dharma and bhakti. You should become virtuous so that it pleases God and your parents. Study well and serve God and the country.
12-8-2000, Perry, USA
Swamishri answered a couple of questions posed to him during the Bal Shibir in Perry, USA.
Q: We make a lot of mistakes yet you never show any displeasure towards us. How can we avoid making mistakes and with what thought do you forgive us?
A: To err is human. Only God and His realised Sadhu never err. But, we project our faults in them. And to dissolve them, they tolerate our errors and faults. God, out of compassion, loves and talks to us. If God and His realised Sadhu start looking at our faults then we would not be able to sit here. To sustain and elevate us they do not look at our faults. This is their compassion, grace, and patience. If one thinks on these lines then one would stop from erring.
Q: What expectations do you have from us?
A: It was Yogiji Maharaj's dream that children become virtuous and through them our society and nation too. For this you have to avoid eating out. Keep away from bad company. To become ideal means to live a pure life, have honesty, morality, the spirit to help others, dharma and bhakti. You should become virtuous so that it pleases God and your parents. Study well and serve God and the country.
12-8-2000, Perry, USA
Tolerance
During an afternoon nap, Swamishri's room had turned very cold. When this topic was brought up later in the day, Swamishri replied, 'Yes, my pillow, bed and the quilt had become very cold. I simply lay awake in such a condition for an hour.'
'Then you should have woken me up,' the attendant sadhu said.
'But I thought why should I wake you up and spoil your sleep also! And besides, I felt that since I had tolerated for some time then let me tolerate it a little more.'
Without a word of complaint, Swamishri tolerated the cold condition for over an hour.
13-8-2000, Charlotte
During an afternoon nap, Swamishri's room had turned very cold. When this topic was brought up later in the day, Swamishri replied, 'Yes, my pillow, bed and the quilt had become very cold. I simply lay awake in such a condition for an hour.'
'Then you should have woken me up,' the attendant sadhu said.
'But I thought why should I wake you up and spoil your sleep also! And besides, I felt that since I had tolerated for some time then let me tolerate it a little more.'
Without a word of complaint, Swamishri tolerated the cold condition for over an hour.
13-8-2000, Charlotte
Three Keys to Development
A children's activity volunteer asked Swamishri, 'Bapa! We run the Bal Mandal in our own way, but would you like to give any special instructions regarding it?'
Swamishri responded, 'You should be aware in not creating any lapses in the children's academic studies. If they are weak then employ teachers for that particular subject. They should not fall back in their studies. And the parents should not feel that their children have lagged in their studies because of their attendance to the mandir.'
'Secondly, their health. Pay attention and take care for their good health. Explain to them to give up eating out in restaurants and hotels.
'And thirdly, their character and satsang values. Introduce them to Shastriji Maharaj and Yogiji Maharaj. Narrate stories from the parables given by Yogiji Maharaj and inspire them to do puja daily.'
For the all-round development of children, Swamishri lucidly highlighted the three essential aspects of education, health and satsang (values).
15-8-2000, Charlotte
A children's activity volunteer asked Swamishri, 'Bapa! We run the Bal Mandal in our own way, but would you like to give any special instructions regarding it?'
Swamishri responded, 'You should be aware in not creating any lapses in the children's academic studies. If they are weak then employ teachers for that particular subject. They should not fall back in their studies. And the parents should not feel that their children have lagged in their studies because of their attendance to the mandir.'
'Secondly, their health. Pay attention and take care for their good health. Explain to them to give up eating out in restaurants and hotels.
'And thirdly, their character and satsang values. Introduce them to Shastriji Maharaj and Yogiji Maharaj. Narrate stories from the parables given by Yogiji Maharaj and inspire them to do puja daily.'
For the all-round development of children, Swamishri lucidly highlighted the three essential aspects of education, health and satsang (values).
15-8-2000, Charlotte
A Pledge to Give Up Meat
This evening, Swamishri gave a message for children and youths to the popular ITV channel. On blessing the cameraman, Mr. Ramnarayan Dayaram, Swamishri asked him, 'Do you have any bad habits or addictions?'
Ramnarayan replied that he was not a vegetarian.
When Swamishri explained to him to become a vegetarian, Ramnarayan simply shrugged his shoulders and said it would be difficult to give it up.
'By giving up meat you won't die. Millions of people are living without it. So give it up,' Swamishri urged.
'I'll try my best,' he replied half-heartedly.
'Have you seen a fish swim in water? It goes this way and that way enjoying itself. Is it good to take it out, kill it and eat it? Would you like someone to snatch your son from you, kill him and then eat him?' Swamishri argued rationally.
'No, of course not?'
'Then you are doing exactly that! Therefore you should give it up. At least have a little compassion for life. Live and let them live too.'
Swamishri's arguments and selfless motive convinced Ramnarayan and he pledged to give up meat.
24-8-2000, New York
This evening, Swamishri gave a message for children and youths to the popular ITV channel. On blessing the cameraman, Mr. Ramnarayan Dayaram, Swamishri asked him, 'Do you have any bad habits or addictions?'
Ramnarayan replied that he was not a vegetarian.
When Swamishri explained to him to become a vegetarian, Ramnarayan simply shrugged his shoulders and said it would be difficult to give it up.
'By giving up meat you won't die. Millions of people are living without it. So give it up,' Swamishri urged.
'I'll try my best,' he replied half-heartedly.
'Have you seen a fish swim in water? It goes this way and that way enjoying itself. Is it good to take it out, kill it and eat it? Would you like someone to snatch your son from you, kill him and then eat him?' Swamishri argued rationally.
'No, of course not?'
'Then you are doing exactly that! Therefore you should give it up. At least have a little compassion for life. Live and let them live too.'
Swamishri's arguments and selfless motive convinced Ramnarayan and he pledged to give up meat.
24-8-2000, New York
Peace of Mind
An aspirant came up to Swamishri and said, 'Give me a niyam to attain peace of mind.' On seeing his tilak-chandlo Swamishri said, 'You perform puja daily, so now read one Vachanamrut everyday.'
Swamishri prescribed Bhagwan Swaminarayan's spiritual discourses as the source for mental peace.
An aspirant came up to Swamishri and said, 'Give me a niyam to attain peace of mind.' On seeing his tilak-chandlo Swamishri said, 'You perform puja daily, so now read one Vachanamrut everyday.'
Swamishri prescribed Bhagwan Swaminarayan's spiritual discourses as the source for mental peace.
God - The Doer
A young American doctor, Teddy Aves, informed Swamishri, 'I feel the tremendous pressure of work.'
Swamishri blessed him saying, 'There is no need to bear the pressure of work. Believe God to be the Doer. If you believe that you are the doer then you will feel the burden of work. But if you believe God as the Doer, you will feel lighter.'
2-9-2000, Houston
A young American doctor, Teddy Aves, informed Swamishri, 'I feel the tremendous pressure of work.'
Swamishri blessed him saying, 'There is no need to bear the pressure of work. Believe God to be the Doer. If you believe that you are the doer then you will feel the burden of work. But if you believe God as the Doer, you will feel lighter.'
2-9-2000, Houston
Faith and Courage
On advising by phone to a youth depressed by his B.Pharm. exams, Swamishri said, 'If you get depressed now then how will you fare through life? You have to face the problems in life, then afterwards everything will be all right. If you get tense now then what will you do when you start working? If you think that you are not happy with this or you cannot do this, then you will spoil your life. Have firm faith in Shriji Maharaj. Have courage.'
The youth responded, 'Yes Swamishri, the sadhus have talked to me and made me understand ...'
'Then have faith in God and His realised Sadhu. Give up all your mental resolves. Don't think that you won't be able to do this! Say that you will be able to do it - your studies in pharmacy, work, business,...'
'Bapa! Bless me so that I can pass.'
'You have my blessings.'
'But Bapa may I remain strong and confident.'
'If you have faith then you will become strong. First have faith, and then make efforts. Do all that you can. But you have accepted defeat and death. What benefit is there in thinking about dying? Make an effort. Everything will be fine. Have courage.'
Swamishri's words resuscitated a diffident youth.
11-9-2000, Houston
On advising by phone to a youth depressed by his B.Pharm. exams, Swamishri said, 'If you get depressed now then how will you fare through life? You have to face the problems in life, then afterwards everything will be all right. If you get tense now then what will you do when you start working? If you think that you are not happy with this or you cannot do this, then you will spoil your life. Have firm faith in Shriji Maharaj. Have courage.'
The youth responded, 'Yes Swamishri, the sadhus have talked to me and made me understand ...'
'Then have faith in God and His realised Sadhu. Give up all your mental resolves. Don't think that you won't be able to do this! Say that you will be able to do it - your studies in pharmacy, work, business,...'
'Bapa! Bless me so that I can pass.'
'You have my blessings.'
'But Bapa may I remain strong and confident.'
'If you have faith then you will become strong. First have faith, and then make efforts. Do all that you can. But you have accepted defeat and death. What benefit is there in thinking about dying? Make an effort. Everything will be fine. Have courage.'
Swamishri's words resuscitated a diffident youth.
11-9-2000, Houston